Toy.



E. C. ZIPFEL.

TOY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. m5,

1,159,882. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

TTNTT @TATh FATE? FTQE.

EDVVABD C. ZIPFEL, OF'OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

TOY.

Application filed September 10, 1915.

new and useful lmpro ements in Toys, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the general class of games and toys, and particularly to devices of this class employing balls or cups connected with a flexible or elastic cord.

It is the object of my invention to provide an article of this kind which will serve to induce mild exercise and the training of the hand and eye to the )(slfOlIXlfiilC of somewhat diflicult feat.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention, showing the same in an inert suspended position, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the approximate position assumed at one phase of movement thereof, Fig. 3 is a view showing a further position of the parts, and Fig. 4 is a side View, partially sectional, showing certain details of structure.

The article provided by my invention comprises, in a sense, two balls or spheres of which one is hollow and of such size that the other may be inclosed thereby, the hollow ball being divided symmetrically to form two semispherical cups, and said cups and the integral ball being connected serially by a flexible and elastic member.

In the device illustrated. a ball 1 is secured upon one end of an elastic and freely flexible cord 2 which has at the opposite end a loop 3 or similar device by which said end of the cord may be detachably connected with one of the fingers of a persons hand. The loop is preferably, though not necessarily, connected with the middle linger, as shown in Fig. 1.

The ball 1 may be of any suitable material such as wood or rubber. and a convenient means for securing the same to the cord is shown in Fig. l, there being a hole formed in the ball into which the end of the cord is inserted and secured by means of a. plug 4 driven in alongside the cord.

At suitable intervals upon the elastic cord 2 are knots or heads 5 which serve to support the semispherical cups 6 and 7, each of the cups having an axial perforation of such size that the cord will pass freely through the same while the knot or bead will not Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 50,093.

pass through. The cups are made of moderately soft rubber, rubber composition, or other pliable and durable material'capable of being distorted without injury thereto and of returning to and maintaining a certain normal form when the distorting force is removed.

When the device hangs inert from the loop 3, the cups 6 and 7 both open downwardly, and the lower cup 6 should be at a distance above the ball 1 about equal to the diameter of the cup, while the upper cup 7 should be separated from the lower by approximately two diameters. When the portion of the cord between the cups is not under tension from the weight of the ball and the lower cup, the length of said cordportion should be sufiicient to enable the two i cups to be faced together to form a hollow ball, as shown in Fig. 3, without requiring the cord to be stretched or elongated.

In the use of the toy the loop 3 is slipped over the finger and the parts may at first either hang therefrom, as shown in Fig. 1, or they may be gathered together with the ball partly contained in the lower cup, the cups nested together, and all retained by closing the lingers thereon. If started from the suspended position the parts may be set in motion by raising the hand quickly so that the cord will be stretched by the increased tension thereon resulting from the inertia of the ball. Then, when the movement of the hand is stopped the cord will return to its normal length, thus throwing the ball and cups up toward the hand so that they may be caught and held thereby. After catching the parts, or when they are started from the nested or grasped position, the same are thr wn downwardly with a certain force, such that after the cord has reached the limit of elongation it will pull the attached members rapidly upward and cause the return thereof to the hand. -When the various members are properly proportioned there is a tendency, during the upward movement, for the ball to overtake and strike the lower cup, and to turn or invert the same as indicated partially in Fig. 2. By continuation of such movement the open sides of the two cups come together with the ball inclosed in the hollow sphere formed thereby, as shown in Fig. 3, and while in this position the parts may be grasped and held in the hand until the downward throwing thereof is repeated.

V I claim and desire to secure by Letters Fata desirable exercise and training of the hands, arms and eyes. If desired, the difliculty of the exercise may be increased by casting or throwing the parts out horizontally, upwardly, or at various angles, instead of downwardly, or it may be required that the parts be caughtwith the cups nested together and the ball held within the lower cup, instead of being inclosed within the upper cup and the inverted lower cup.

The ball and cups may be colored or suitably decorated to give them an attractive appearance.

Now, having described my invention, what ent is':

1; In an article of the class described, a

ball, a pair of semispherical cups, and a flexible cord connecting said ball and cups serially and connected therewith axially.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the VCOmmiSsioner of Patents.

elastic cord having at one'end a finger-engaging loop, a ball secured on the opposite end of the cord, and two semisphe'rical cups 7 the ball therein, and the ball and cups being normally in. spaced relation to each other. l. In a device of the'class described, an:

elastic and freely flexible cord, a member fixedly connected with a part thereof, and 7 elements connected with the cord in spaced relation to each other and to said member,

said elements beingadapted to vinclos'e said member when brought into a certain relation thereto. I

5. In an article ofthe class described, a flexible and .elastlc element, and members connected therewith in normally spaced re-' lation to each other, certain of said members being formed and adapted to comprise an lnclosure for anothei whenmoved into determined relations thereto. 2. In a device ot the class described, an

EDWARD c. ZIPFEL.

Washington, 1). C. 

